Wednesday, 19 November 2014

At Str.Crd day 2 we tried to challenge that, is impossible really nothing? And does the brand back that statement up, inspired by recent collaborations by Adidas with Nigo, Pharrell, Palace, Kanye we thought of a concept we would do if we were afforded a chance to collaborate with the brand at such a level.

So we created, created out of the need to create and only that, to contribute to making better quality product and I think sometimes we are at fault for giving away ideas, being exploited by brands that don't really care about us and what we have to offer but only care about how they benefit as a result that.

We need to have dreams, dreams so big that they seem impossible and maybe for us this dream is impossible, but if we are not dreaming then what are we doing. The problem is when you have ideas on progressing the level at which culture is being communicated and negotiated, you only care about getting that idea out, by any means possible whether you get support from people or brands. And that is our struggle, a struggle we must admit is hard to overcome because we aren't at a point in our lives where we can afford to do that and not get paid.

We want the money and the dopeness, a dopeness that sometimes exceeds people's ideas of product creation that they can't or rather don't want to help. So having our own brands is important, because we get to dictate what we want without any considerations from elsewhere, and we are working on it, but due to financial struggles and responsibilities with family that don't allow us to dedicate all our time and money to producing at a level where we won't compromise what we stand for, we are at cross-roads. A cross-road that sees us either explore product creation with little to no resources and fight that struggle until it reaches it's peak on our own or another road that sees us use resources the world already has, and through collaborating ultimately better the standard of product.

One thing we know for sure is that, either way we will get to the finish line (with or without aid) and it is only a matter of time that we do.

The Sartists two piece 'Adidas' suit is our first idea of a collaboration, with any brand..and hopefully soon enough there will be more.

Monday, 17 November 2014

Weeks before Str.Crd there was a buzz about the city, an excitement in street-culture that we hadn't experienced since the last Str.Crd in Johannesburg, 2013. With promises of acts and talks from Virgil Abloh of OFFWHITE , Heron Preston of Been Trill, Justin R Saunders of JJJJound, Emma Stenstrom of Stockholm School of Economics, Jeff Carvalho of Highsnobiety and Selectism as well as what would be the most important talk of the day for us, Lazi 'Greiispaces.

What is really important about Str.Crd is that it's the only time of the year that people, brands, creatives get to meet in one place and engage in the cultural state of South Africa, as well as its cultural progression. And it was a pity that not everything promised could be delivered. It was also a really sad to realise that where some people invest their entire lives trying to contribute to growing South African culture, some people don't seem to care. A realisation that sometimes where money talks, love really does stutter.

Having missed some of the talks we got to catch up with some of the speakers later, to learn about their beginnings in their respective works, and as anticipated the most important talk for us was that of Designer and Illustrator, Lazi 'Greiispaces'. A communicator of South African stories that a vast majority of the population relate to but seem to be embarrassed about. An embarrassment we need to stop being embarrassed by.

On a different note, we wore the Brooklyn Circus' new collection, a brand that has allowed and given us the opportunity to communicate culture to a wider audience, giving meaning and a voice to global culture.

Lastly thank you to Hardy and Mandla for Str.Crd, Lazi Greiispaces as well as the rest of speakers as well as everyone that continues to encourage and support the Sartists on their journey, as well as the Brooklyn Circus that continues to make us look good.